HOW THE TITLE CAME ABOUT:
During a hard-fought cocaine trial, the DA and I clashed more than usual. At one point I made 13 straight objections—every one sustained. The prosecutor broke down and complained to the judge, who said, “I can’t help it, he’s making good objections.”
Later, as I approached chambers, I overheard the judge say about me, “He’s a badass.”
When I walked in, he smiled and said, “You did some good lawyering today.”
William E. Collins
William Collins is a retired criminal defense attorney with a legal career spanning more than four decades. He passed the California State Bar Examination in the summer of 1970 and began practicing law in January 1971 with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. After seven years of public service, he opened a private practice in Hollywood, near Sunset and Vine.
Throughout his career, Mr. Collins handled an exceptionally wide range of criminal cases — from routine traffic violations to first-degree felony murder. While his practice was primarily based in California, he also tried cases in federal courts in Seattle and Denver.
The most distinctive hallmark of his career is his trial record: 73 percent of his cases resulted in not guilty verdicts, dismissals, or hung juries — an extraordinary outcome in criminal defense litigation.
Now retired, Mr. Collins is the proud grandfather of four and hopes they will come to know something about the career and principles that defined their “Papa Bill.”
